Good formation and perfect visual appearance for low speed machines

OptiFlo headbox for specialty paper grades

Decor papers enable surface upgrades for wood-based substrates for use in the production of furniture, laminate flooring and other interior and exterior design panels.

Every specialty paper and board grade has a niche market and its own needs for the production process. High quality of the end product is vital, and the quality targets must be met constantly without deviations.

Good formation and perfect visual appearance

Hydraulic headbox for lower speeds

OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox for specialty paper producers

To better meet the needs of those specialty paper producers that run at lower speeds, Valmet has developed a new technology for OptiFlo Fourdrinier headboxes. It enables to expand the speed range of the headbox family even lower than before.

The new OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox technology gives an opportunity to operate at lower machine speeds with hydraulic headboxes instead of using a rectifier headbox, while still providing the needed high quality for the end products. This gives a chance to run at lower headbox flows and lower speeds up to 120m/min.

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Good formation and perfect visual appearance

The key element of the OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox for low speeds is it's completely redesigned headbox turbulence generator, which will provide a high level of performance in the end products.

The requirements for good formation and perfect visual appearance for the end product can be met, making this headbox an excellent alternative for rectifier roll headbox replacements.

The visual samples from pilot trials show even formation over a wide grammage range from 130 gsm (left) to 200 gsm and 220 gsm. The redesigned turbulence generator has been heavily tested in pilot runs at our Paper Technology Center's pilot paper machine.

Flatter sheet and improved strength at Ahlström Munksjö Dettingen PM34

Watch the video to learn about the Ahlström Munksjö Dettingen PM34 wet end rebuild. Mill manager Thomas Gehring says that "Since the rebuild, we have more constant and flatter grammage variation in both machine and cross direction. After the start-up, the CD deviation improvement was immediately evident from the scanner data. We’re talking about a reduction in deviation of more than 15 percent.”

The PM 34 produces colored decor paper, and the less color deviation the paper has, the better. Since the rebuild, the mill crew has been able to assess the right color level needed for each customer more quickly. The flatter sheet also helps with changes in color constancy: A more constant sheet means a more constant color level.

Watch the video for full reference details.

How to plan a successful headbox rebuild?

Rebuilding a paper or board machine can improve the competitiveness of your business and your processes. But where do you start? Download our e-book to learn how to develop a winning rebuild concept, how to minimize rebuild related risks, and how to ensure smooth ramp up to full production.

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Main features of OptiFlo Fourdrinier Headbox

The key tehcnologies that make OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox the best choice for specialty paper producers, are explained and displayed in this video. The innovative design of Valmet’s OptiFlo headbox provides the greatest floc breaking ability and flattest profiles available on the market. That ensures that the paper and board products you make is of optimal quality.

All the features of the headbox have been carefully designed to increase machine productivity, while keeping daily operating costs in control.

Watch the video to learn more.

Discover customer success stories with OptiFlo headboxes

Flexibility and stable quality for specialty paper production with new headbox

Mar 31, 2025

Specialty paper manufacturer Papelera de Brandia, S.A. was facing declining market shares. They invested in a new OptiFlo Fourdrinier headbox that has enabled them to improve and stabilize product quality as well as improve productivity. This has resulted in better competitiveness and in increased market shares.

Headbox rebuild for Ahlström Munksjö’s Dettingen

Aug 12, 2021

The customers of Ahlström Munksjö’s Dettingen mill in Germany set high expectations of the quality and printability of decor paper used in furniture. The mill’s recent wet end rebuild has further improved paper strength, as well as decreased the grammage deviation.

Sappi Maastricht: Extremely good quality with new 3-layer headbox and metal belt calender

Feb 11, 2020

Valmet’s unique three-layer headbox and metal belt calender have helped Sappi Maastricht to produce outstandingly white and bulky board, with excellent printability and surface properties.

Mondi Steti: three times better 2-sigma values with headbox rebuild

Dec 12, 2019

The Mondi Steti Mill is passionate about performance. They aim for optimal printability that enables their customers to grab attention while offering the right packaging characteristics, like strength for the end user.

Yinzhou Paper's rebuild for better quality test liner

Oct 18, 2016

Frequent customer complaints regarding the evenness and CD profiles of Dongguan’s linerboard led Yinzhou Paper to replace the headboxes and invest in modern quality control system.

Alfeld PM 2: A special star is born

Nov 19, 2014

Sappi Alfeld Mill in Germany completed an ambitious project to convert its one remaining graphic paper machine - PM 2 - into what is probably the largest, most innovative, automated and versatile speciality paper machine on the planet.

Read more about our technologies and solutions for special paper producers

Technologies for special papers

We pay and get a receipt, eat hamburgers and bake cookies on baking paper. They are in our lives but seldom we stop to think about how special those papers and boards are. Every specialty paper and board grade has its own niche market and its own needs for the production process.

Pilot trials

Valmet Paper Technology Center provides the world's most comprehensive offering of testing and piloting services to paper and board manufacturers worldwide. Our pilot facilities have the entire process covered, from stock preparation to coatings and everything between, providing customers with excellent service and reliable results to support investment decisions.

Rebuilds and improvements

Paper machine rebuilds offer ways to remove production bottlenecks, reduce production costs, improve operating safety, save energy or add new grades with paper machine conversion.

Planning a grade conversion?

The world is changing fast; the consumption of newsprint and printing paper is decreasing and the consumption of containerboards or cartonboards are increasing. An old paper machine can be updated with a grade conversion rebuild to produce more profitable products. Turn a new page for your paper machine with the help from Valmet.

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Board and paper news

Explore our customer success stories and learn more about our full-scope offering for the board and paper industries.

Long-term collaboration leads to lasting benefits

Jul 3, 2025

Long-term collaboration with Valmet ensures trust, reliability, and continuous improvement. We help our customers develop their operations with strategic planning and dedicated support.

Optimized for high efficiency and low consumption

Jun 30, 2025

PM 1 at Sun Paper’s Beihai mill is a fine paper production line and a showcase for Sun Paper’s pulp and paper integration strategy.

30 years of intelligent quality control with Valmet IQ

Jun 30, 2025

For the past three decades, Valmet IQ has been a trusted quality control solution for Pankakoski board mill, ensuring process efficiency and operational excellence.

A journey to enhance operational excellence

Jun 30, 2025

JK Paper Limited has embarked on a series of transformative projects to elevate efficiency, energy savings, and product quality. With multiple investments and continuous support, the company is now ready to maintain its competitive edge in an evolving market.

Metsä Board Kyro ensures consistent quality with upgrades

Jun 24, 2025

The first Valmet IQ Web Inspection System was installed at the Kyro mill in 2008, followed by the Valmet IQ Web Monitoring System in 2010. A maintenance agreement ensures that the systems continue to run optimally and stay on the upgrade path.

Reliable coating quality with OptiCoat Layer curtain coating station at WEIG KM 3

Jun 16, 2025

Watch the video and discover how WEIG Group invested in new coating technology and replaced an old air knife coater. In December 2024, their board machine KM 3 started up with new OptiCoat Layer coating station in Mayen, Germany. As a result the quality of the board has enhanced by improving coating coverage and reducing streakiness of the coating.

WEIG KM 3: Reliable coating quality with OptiCoat Layer curtain coating station

Jun 16, 2025

In December 2024, WEIG Group’s latest investment in its KM 3 board machine, an OptiCoat Layer coating station, started up in Mayen, Germany. The curtain coating technology replaced an old air knife coater and has enhanced the quality of the board by improving coating coverage and reducing streakiness of the coating.

Dr. Jin-Doo Kim awarded with a Medal for Extraordinary Achievement for decades-long work for promoting board and paper technologies

Jun 13, 2025

Dr. Jin-Doo Kim was awarded with the Medal for Extraordinary Achievement by Finland Chamber of Commerce on June 12, 2025 for his decades-long work for promoting board and paper technologies.